Chapter 19: Bath

Before the New Year, Yan Yunzhi rested at home for several days, and her illness was considered cured.

This year, they were to spend the New Year at the Yan family home.

She prepared gifts for her uncle and aunt, as well as presents for her nephews and nieces in advance.

Ning Ke didn’t concern herself with these matters, except for the gift for Grandpa Yan, which she personally selected.

The old gentleman enjoyed calligraphy, so she went to an antique shop and ordered a high-quality inkstone and a writing brush.

Because the order was placed late, she could only pick them up on the thirtieth (New Year’s Eve).

After collecting the inkstone and brush, Ning Ke had the driver take her to a traditional Chinese medicine shop.

In addition to supplements like ginseng and bird’s nest, she also chose Chinese medicinal herbs such as American ginseng, Gastrodia elata, and Panax notoginseng.

Yan Yunzhi stood aside waiting for her.

She was dressed simply as usual, in a long, light-coffee-colored coat, a white top underneath, and soft wool boots.

The only adornment was a pair of silver tassel earrings.

When she turned her head to smile, the tassels swayed beside her ear, emitting a gentle glow: “That’s enough, no need to buy more.”

Ning Ke: “Okay. Let’s go then.”

Both of Yan Yunzhi’s paternal uncles’ families were present.

Her paternal aunt had married far away many years ago; Ning Ke had only met her once and didn’t see her today.

Her eldest paternal aunt, Jiang Ru, came to open the door, her face beaming: “Next time, you mustn’t bring so many things back!

Ah Zhi, manage Ke Ke, she can’t just move all the good stuff home.”

In reality, with the Yan family’s wealth, they didn’t lack such things, but she spoke with warmth, politeness, and intimacy.

Yan Yunzhi smiled gently: “You manage all the affairs of the household, big and small, you work the hardest.

Buying a few things is just what we should do.”

Jiang Ru smiled and called for the helper (Auntie) to put the things down.

As they were talking, the second paternal aunt, Song Ying, also came over, leading her granddaughter.

She had been rebuffed by Ning Ke last time, but today she still greeted them with a smile, grabbing Yan Yunzhi’s hand: “Look at you, married for two years, and this is the first New Year spent at home.

Ah Zhi, you’re a few years older than Ke Ke, you should spend more time with her, that’s how a relationship grows strong.”

Yan Yunzhi murmured an agreement, subtly withdrawing her hand: “Auntie, Ke Ke bought you a jadeite bangle, would you like to try it on?”

“Okay, okay, let me try it on!”

“Sister-in-law, this one looks good!”

“Eldest sister-in-law, I think your pearl necklace is nice too!”

“They’re all good, all good, Ke Ke has such good taste!”

Ning Ke disliked exchanging pleasantries and detested insincere politeness the most.

Grandpa Yan was still upstairs and hadn’t come down, so she contentedly played the role of the invisible person.

Yan Yunzhi probably knew she lacked patience and shielded her from many conversations.

As mealtime approached, Yan Qi came down, standing on the stairs and glancing at them: “Finally decided to come back.”

Yan Yunzhi glanced at Ning Ke, signaling ‘it’s okay’ with her eyes, before replying: “Grandpa, we were just waiting for you to eat.”

Yan Qi saw her complexion was good, showing no trace of her previous sickly appearance, and his expression softened considerably: “Mm, let’s eat.”

Ning Ke sat next to Yan Yunzhi, offering toasts when appropriate, but remaining mostly quiet otherwise.

Yan Yunzhi leaned closer to her, asking warmly: “Little Ning, do you want some beef?”

Ning Ke was very unaccustomed to her tone, like coaxing a child, but she had to keep up the act thoroughly, nodding vigorously, looking very obedient.

Yan Yunzhi smiled at her, served her some spicy beef, and then ladled a bowl of lotus root soup for her: “Have some soup first to warm your stomach, otherwise eating spicy food directly will hurt it.”

Ning Ke: “Mm, okay.”

Yan Qi glanced over, feeling quite helpless inwardly.

Ah Zhi was his eldest granddaughter. Her father passed away early, and the child’s health wasn’t good, so he paid extra attention to her.

This child was also likable, gentle towards others, calm and magnanimous, just a bit solitary in nature; he had never seen her care deeply about anyone.

Except for this girl from the Ning family.

…Forget it.

Yan Qi put down his chopsticks, and everyone else followed suit.

The old gentleman took out a thick stack of red envelopes, giving each junior member two large ones, thick and substantial.

Ning Ke was also given two red envelopes. Her eyes curved, and she smiled as she thanked Grandpa Yan: “I get some too? Thank you, Grandpa!”

She wore a bright red sweater, the kind elders favor most, with two fluffy white balls on the shoulders.

A girl of her age, smiling with rosy lips and white teeth, her eyes bright, was hard to dislike.

Yan Qi rarely smiled, but did so now: “Of course, you do. Ah Zhi always says you haven’t grown up yet.”

Jiang Ru teased: “Oh my. Our Ah Zhi really knows how to dote on someone.”

Song Ying chimed in: “Yes, Ah Zhi mentioned before that Ke Ke just has a bit of a temper, but is very well-behaved otherwise.”

‘Very well-behaved?’

Ning Ke paused.

‘How exactly did Yan Yunzhi describe their sham marriage to others?’

After dinner, the family sat together watching the Spring Festival Gala and playing mahjong.

Ning Ke learned mahjong from Lin Yun and was quite skilled, but tonight, sitting before Grandpa Yan, she openly fed him many tiles.

The old gentleman won almost exclusively, making the others complain endlessly.

As soon as it struck nine, Yan Yunzhi spoke: “Grandpa, it’s getting late.”

Yan Qi: “You two are leaving?”

Yan Yunzhi: “Yes.”

Yan Qi frowned slightly, thought for a moment, then said: “Understood.”

He was the patriarch whose word was law. After he spoke, neither of the aunts dared to persuade them to stay.

Before leaving, Yan Yunzhi said she was going back to her room to get a couple of books.

She specifically took the inkstone and brush Ning Ke had bought upstairs with her.

She probably chatted with Yan Qi for a while, coming down only after fifteen minutes.

On the way back.

Ning Ke looked out the window: “I don’t mind, resting here tonight is fine too. Anyway, we only come back once or twice a year.”

Yan Yunzhi: “It’s not because of you. I don’t want to stay long myself.”

Ning Ke was very surprised.

Except for the second aunt, Song Ying, who didn’t speak very pleasantly, the others treated Yan Yunzhi well.

Yan Yunzhi didn’t explain further, changing the subject: “You lost so much money tonight, how should I compensate you?”

“Why mention that,” Ning Ke had always been too lazy to focus on trivial matters, “Keeping such close tabs?”

“Of course not,” Yan Yunzhi looked at her side profile, “Between you and me, we don’t need to count so clearly.”

Ning Ke touched her ear, not speaking.

Back home, she was about to return to her room.

Yan Yunzhi stopped her: “It’s a new year, have you made any New Year’s wishes?”

Ning Ke glanced back at her.

Something flickered in her bright, deep eyes. She chuckled softly: “No.”

Yan Yunzhi paused, seeming disappointed as she nodded: “Okay. Well then, goodnight.”

Ning Ke: “Mm. Goodnight.”

From the first to the third day of the Lunar New Year, Ning Ke rested at home and also visited the Ning family twice to see relatives.

She finally had free time on the evening of the third day.

Lin Yun asked her out for a stroll.

It was rare for places to be less crowded during the New Year period.

Many shops in the mall were still open.

Ning Ke and Lin Yun were equally matched in their shopping prowess, able to walk continuously for five or six hours in high heels without feeling tired.

The two bought over a dozen shopping bags worth of clothes.

After handing them to the driver, they planned to get a manicure before heading home.

However, just as they stepped out of the store, they saw a familiar person standing in front of a women’s clothing shop.

Ning Ke stopped Lin Yun: “Is that Tao Zi?”

Lin Yun looked closely: “Ah yes, we came to support her opening last time, remember?”

Ning Ke nodded, standing still.

Not far away, Tao Zi’s eyes were red as she yelled at her fiancé, Zhou Yan: “We’re about to get married! And you’re still messing around with other people!”

Zhou Yan pulled a young female employee behind him, his face cold: “Only you, the precious young miss, can’t be touched usually, so I’m not allowed to find other women?”

Tao Zi was almost driven mad by his words: “Are you insane?”

Zhou Yan sneered: “If it weren’t for your parents’ money, do you think I’d even look at you? Who do you think you are!”

Tao Zi rushed forward to slap him but was forcefully pushed away by him.

Losing her balance, she fell backward, her waist hitting a table hard.

Cold tea spilled all over her, leaving her utterly disheveled in an instant.

Ning Ke stuffed her handbag into Lin Yun’s hands, strode over quickly, and splashed the hot coffee in her hand directly onto Zhou Yan’s face: “You surnamed Zhou, have some decency.”

The man, scalded by the hot coffee, let out a sharp ‘Ah!’ scream, clutching his head and frantically wiping his face, then roared furiously: “Ning Ke! Are you sick!”

Ning Ke looked at him coldly: “I think you’re the one who’s sick.”

After saying that, she grabbed Tao Zi and walked out, completely ignoring Zhou Yan’s shouting.

Tao Zi sobbed: “You, don’t laugh at me.”

Ning Ke retorted irritably: “Am I so bored that I’d come here to laugh at you!”

Lin Yun lived nearby. The two took Tao Zi there.

Seeing she was very unstable emotionally and her clothes were soaked, they first found clothes for her and told her to take a shower.

But Tao Zi refused, insisting on drinking alcohol.

Lin Yun had a slightly better relationship with her, so she had no choice but to keep her company and started drinking with her.

Ning Ke sat beside them, watching the two drunkards drink.

Tao Zi drank too much and said through tears: “Actually, actually we used to hang out together often, but later you stopped talking to me.”

Ning Ke shook her head, her expression also a bit wistful: “Back then, you got close to the Zhou family. I couldn’t persuade you.”

She and Tao Zi used to have a good relationship until Tao Zi became too close with Zhou Yan’s sister, Zhou Lan.

She couldn’t stand the Zhou family’s mercenary attitude, tried to persuade her several times, but Tao Zi didn’t listen.

Later, the two drifted apart, disagreeing even more when they talked, arguing within a couple of sentences.

Tao Zi started wailing: “I was wrong… I lacked confidence back then.

My brother, you, Lin Yun, you all got into good schools.

Only me, I couldn’t even get into university.

No one around me praised me, only Zhou Lan would compliment me, saying I was pretty, saying I was smart…”

Ning Ke: “…Just because she said you were smart, you became smart? Do you think you’re very smart?”

Tao Zi, tears streaming: “Ning Ke, would it kill you to comfort me just once?”

Ning Ke’s tone was as stiff as ever: “It would kill me. I don’t know how to comfort people.”

Tao Zi glared at her, crying and laughing at the same time, then suddenly leaned over and hugged her: “I’m sorry.”

Ning Ke frowned and endured it for three seconds before pushing her away, unable to hold back a laugh herself: “Alright, alright, don’t get all mushy with me. Okay, drunkard, hurry up and take a shower.”

Ning Ke hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol and had to clean up after the two drunkards.

By the time she finished tidying up, it was past two in the morning.

Only then did she check her phone and see a message from Yan Yunzhi: [What time are you coming home?]

That was sent past one AM.

‘She wouldn’t have waited until then, would she?’

Ning Ke subconsciously wanted to call her, but quickly dismissed the thought.

‘It’s so late, she should be asleep already.’

‘Should I go home now?’

‘No… it’s so late now, going home would disturb Yan Yunzhi.’

‘Forget it, I’ll deal with it tomorrow.’

The next morning.

Ning Ke grabbed her bag and went downstairs.

Lin Yun was busy in the kitchen, heard the noise, turned around, and asked her: “Ke Ke, what do you want for breakfast?”

Ning Ke: “Not eating, I’m heading home first.”

Lin Yun: “Eat some breakfast before you go! My cooking isn’t bad.”

Ning Ke: “Not eating, no time.”

Lin Yun watched her hastily departing figure, looking like she couldn’t stay a second longer, and muttered, puzzled: “Why leave so fast, what treasure is waiting at home?”

Ning Ke vaguely heard her voice but didn’t stop walking.

She entered the elevator, went down to the parking lot, got into her car, picked up her phone, and called Yan Yunzhi.

The moment it started dialing, she regretted it.

– This was the first time she had called Yan Yunzhi since they got married.

But the call connected quickly.

Ning Ke pressed her lips together: “Yan Yunzhi, it’s me.”

The person on the other end laughed: – “I know.”

Ning Ke: “I had something come up last night, I didn’t see your message.”

– “It’s fine. I woke up thirsty last night, passed by your room and saw the door open, so I just asked,” Yan Yunzhi’s tone was gentle, – “Did something happen? Is it resolved?”

Ning Ke: “It’s fine now. I’ll tell you about it later.”

Yan Yunzhi: – “Coming home?”

Ning Ke hummed in affirmation: “Hanging up first, I’m driving.”

Yan Yunzhi: – “Okay, be careful on the road.”

After hanging up, Ning Ke let out a sigh of relief.

She hadn’t rested well last night, and her temples throbbed faintly.

She put on her earphones to listen to music, temporarily diverting her attention.

She arrived home half an hour later.

The house was quiet, likely empty.

Lu Jie was also on leave these few days, only coming over to cook, otherwise staying at her own home.

As for Yan Yunzhi, she had mentioned needing to go back to the Yan family home this morning.

She had been up too late last night, feeling tired and sleepy.

Ning Ke didn’t want to go back to her room to shower, so she grabbed her pajamas and went directly into the communal bathroom on the first floor.

She took off her earphones first. Only as she neared the bathroom did she remember she hadn’t removed her earrings.

She pushed the door open with one hand while taking off an earring with the other.

The moment she pushed the door open, damp heat rushed towards her, enveloping her completely.

The person standing in the bathroom mist was tall and slender, with beautiful curves and a delicate figure.

The softly rounded mounds were like fine white jade, seemingly able to melt in the palm of one’s hand.

Ning Ke subconsciously took a step back.

Yan Yunzhi… was showering.

She stood at the doorway.

For a few moments, she said nothing, did nothing.

But her gaze uncontrollably landed where it shouldn’t.

When she came back to her senses, she realized her behavior was somewhat offensive and began to explain: “Yan Yunzhi, I was just…”

“Ning Ke,” the woman standing in the water vapor interrupted her, her voice tinged with amusement, a rare occurrence, “No need to peek, look openly.”

Ning Ke held her breath, her face flushing red, and retorted fiercely: “Who’s peeking at you? We’re both women, what’s there to see!”